Expansion into Africa

• When did British interest in Africa begin to develop?

  After the loss of Britain's American colonies at the end of the eighteenth century
• What event prompted Britain to seek influence in Asia and Africa?


  The loss of the American colonies
• What technological advancements facilitated British expansion in Africa during the nineteenth century?

  Steamships and weapons' production
• What were the main reasons for the disputes between Britain and its American colonies?

  • Taxes imposed by Parliament without colonial control
  • Colonial resentment over having to buy imports from British merchants
  • Requirement to export goods to Britain
• Who led the colonial rebels during the war that broke out in 1775?


  George Washington
• What was the outcome of the war between Britain and the colonial rebels?


  The British were defeated and the former colonies formed the United States of America
• Who introduced the concept of a "Swing to the East"?


  Vincent Harlow
• What does the "Swing to the East" concept explain?


  A shift in Britain's imperial priorities towards Africa and Asia
• How did British imperial priorities change by the turn of the nineteenth century?


  • Shifted from the Western hemisphere to Africa and Asia
  • Preference for trade over pure conquest and control
• What was a very valuable commodity for British expansion in Africa?

  African ivory
• Since when had British merchants traded with West Africa?

  Since the 1500s
• What commodity took precedence over gold and ivory trade in the eighteenth century?


  The slave trade
• How many Africans were exported by Britain to work as slaves before the outlawing of the slave trade in 1807?


  Three million
• What was the key reason for British expansion in Africa during the second half of the nineteenth century?


  The prospect of further trade
• What considerations emerged after accessing materials, markets, or routes in Africa?


  Investment opportunities and strategic interests
• What are some reasons for British interest in expansion in Africa according to Source 1?


  • Mineral wealth between the coast and the great lakes
  • Capacity for production of cattle and cereals
  • Less unhealthy climate than the West Coast
  • Strategic advantages for navy and traders
  • Natives believed to be industrious and welcoming of government
• What was the significance of the climate in East Africa for British interests?


  The climate was less unhealthy than that of the West Coast
• What strategic advantages did the mountain ranges of Kilimanjaro and Kenya provide?


  They afforded a European climate within easy reach of the coast
• What was the role of British merchants like George Goldie and Cecil Rhodes in Africa?


  They recognized and capitalized on new commodities
• How did the Great Depression from 1873 to 1896 affect British trade with Africa?


  It increased the need for sales markets in Africa
• What were the strategic factors that led to colonization in Africa?


  • Protection of coastal interests in West Africa
  • Construction of forts along the Gold Coast
  • Need for military presence to secure trade routes
• What was the relationship between British industrial productivity and African resources?


  Increased industrial productivity led to a demand for African resources
• What types of resources were sought in Africa to support British industry in the second half of the nineteenth century?

  Coal, iron, and timber
• What were the coastal defences mentioned in the study material?

  Sierra Leone and Gambia
• Why was the establishment of a colony at the Cape significant?


  It was strategically located at the most southerly tip of Africa with advantages over other harbours
• When was Cape Colony seized by Britain?


  In 1806
• What was the role of Cape Colony during the Napoleonic Wars?


  It protected the sea route to the Middle East, China, Australia, and India
• How did Cape Colony contribute to Britain's power over sea routes to the East?


  By providing a strategic location for controlling maritime trade routes
• What moral factors influenced the spread of the Empire during the Victorian era?


  Strong moral principles and the duty of missionaries to spread their faith
• Who is the most famous example of a missionary explorer mentioned in the study material?

  David Livingstone
• What was the general agreement about the Empire's role in civilization?


  It was a powerful force for the spread of civilization through trade and superior codes of behavior
• What did Christian philanthropists believe about the races in the Empire?


  They believed these races could be raised to European standards of education and conduct
• How were subscribers to missions encouraged to donate?


  By pamphlets outlining the depravity of the heathen
• What types of stories were presented to encourage donations to missions?


  Lurid accounts of idolatry, superstitions, tribal warfare, and cannibalism
• By what year had most of Africa been mapped?

  By 1857
• What significant geographical feature was not charted by Europeans until 1867?


  The course of the Congo River
• What did explorers locate in Africa that motivated European merchants?


  Vast reserves of raw materials such as gold, palm oil, and diamonds
• Which regions were charted by explorers in Africa during the early 19th century?

  The Sahara, Lower Niger River, and southern Africa
• Who recorded the source of the Upper Nile in a series of expeditions?

  Burton and Speke
• What years did the expeditions to record the source of the Upper Nile take place?


  Between 1857 and 1868